The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-02-09
TRUE LOVES TEST.

y
not care anything about him. but can
not bear to have you even let him imagine
that you do"
Now, Hal, don't be unreasonable"
was .Leonies pouting reply, as with
" There's my cue r che tripped on to the
stage.
Hal Duncan was the leading man at
Stockton's Theatre, whilst Leonie Burns
had been engaged as O soubrette. She
was decided favorite among theatre
goers by reason of her natural talents and
pretty winsome face.
Leonie Burns had promised ct some In
definite date to marry Hal Duncan.
Perhaps Leonie never could have told
exactly why she promised to marry him.
1t might have been because he was so
strong and steady. and the receiver OF
quite handsome salary, or perhaps be-
cause his company was assiduousiy
sought by some fashionable damsels.
Be 1t as 1t might, however, 1t was not
exactly for love that Leonie became the
promised wife of Hal Duncan, or sho
would never have leased and wounded
him as often as she did; although. to
give her her due, she usually made 1t up
by being so charmingly penitent for the
space OF about five minutes that he was
willing to put up with her tantalizing
ways Just for that glimpse OF after bliss.
II Hal could have had his way, they
would have been married there and then;
but she always put him of with an ex-
cuse, arguing there was plenty OF time
and they did very well as they wore. and
SO Hal was fain to rest content and be
thankful for any extra amiability on Le-
onie's part.
About this time an exquisite OF the first
water regularly put In an appearance at
each performance given at Stockton's
Theatre, bearing In his immaculate gloved
hand an elaborate bouquet. No sooner
did the pretty soubrette, Leonie Burns,
appear upon the stage. than this was
passed into the keeping Of the usher to
be handed up to her, much to the annoy
ance OF Hal Duncan.
Leonle enjoyed the little fiutter OF ex-
element it always caused. and the, nu-
fnerous sallies called forth by the devo-'
tlon OF her "admirer."
So far, Leonie's admirer had contented
himself with applaudlng her every effort
and the presentation OF flowers; but on
the night OF our story's opening and the
appeal of Hal Duncan to his intended TO
,lesist from accepting the dudes offer
ngs, tiny box containing sapphire
ring was concealed In the bouquet.
Leonie very wisely determined that 1t
had better he returned. Flowers were
different, but anything further, of course,
must be nipped In the bud.
Unfortunately, however, She thought:
81 must just try 1t ON first; 1t Is too
sweet for anything"
At that moment Hal Duncan happened
10 pass her dressing-room door, which
stood open. and glancing In he saw her
pretty figure reflected In @ mirror In the
act OF placing the ring upon her finger.
In a second he was by her side, ex-
claiming hotly:
$50 It has come to this, that he pre-
sents you with jewelry r. pointing to the
ring; adding: " Leonle, II you accept
that ring all Is over between u.s.
Leonie answered saucily: AS you
please, Mr. Duncan" and with snatch
OF song upon her lips she turned and
danced gayly out of the room.
If MIR. Duncan had followed her he
would have seen her head few moments
afterwards bent In earnest confab with
Tom, the call-boy, as q small box passed
from her keeping into his.
However, as he was angrily gnawing
his mustaehe, and vowing that he would
that which would have set all things
right between them. But instead they
met, he coolly polite, she apparently
utterly Indifferent to the man she had
once promised to wed and of course, it
was soon whispered about that the en-
gagement between Leonie Burns and Hal
Duncan was off.
on tho third finger OF Leonie's left
hand now cleaned, Instead of the pearl
ring, Halls gift, sapphire, whilst her
''admirers bouquets continued to DO
charged with dainty bilst-dour and little
odd-shaped packages, all OF which were
smilingly received over the footlights by
the fascinating soubrette.
1t was even limited that Miss Burns had
been seen driving with her fashionable
admirer, and that before long Stockton's
Theatre might lose its star.
III anyone knew how matters stood It
was Tom, the call-boy, between Leonie
and whom a confidence seemed to have
sprung up; but Tom, who was Miss
Burns's devoted champion, would have
been cut up and eaten. as he expressed
himself, before he would have divulge
anything that she might have confided to
him.
Things had been going on this way for
about month, when one evening Hal
Duncan failed to put In an appearance at
! the theatre.
II was time to ring up the curtain, and
si,ii no leaalis inal'. -. a,.,..t.a
Inc elaseT'n1 n.s ~ ' iS ,..',,,
rom 10 MAJ Da,,ea ~. ,ousn'ss, ,i ,osa
wnehce pack calae ~, sle pos ni1 sni we 20.
WITH Inc news .hae MT. Duicali nau ho'
been at ms lodgings since inolnihs. 49,.
A nasty gaIneIlhg .oso ',u, VI NY sno,
atre forces. ana 70 the waikihg gei'le ,a,la,
was consiRhed MAJ Dunean Pala, wi'i US,
an apology was mace 70 me aunienee loi
| the leading mans ppeaaanee' an, ~
| indulgence craved lor Inc ae.or Mno a. =, ~
short notice was caiieu upon 10 'hA'
Dir; Dancai' place, .,x.,n 5000 ho,oro ,
haruiy hau 'ne cur.oln aIveo po epo.lNo1
messenger-eoy arrived with the iniornia
ton that MI. duncan, WINS. GUY uiisiiip
that afternoon WIN n, . lriena. nau ,,oe !,
thrown rom .he carriage anu severeiy =
not fatally injured. ana was az lnat mo no
nlsnt pelng casea ioa .; ~ q house ~ 'i'
The horses had taken fright at the firint
OF a pistol by a boy. and In their mat
course had run into J. fence and over
| thrown the carriage. Mi. Duncan, beinl